Algae in Freshwater Ecosystems - EEB 457

Course Description

Have you thanked the algae today?

Without algae, life would not be possible for humans on this planet.  Algae provide the oxygen for every other breath you take and are the base of aquatic food webs.  Algae are also leading indicators of water quality, both in terms of eutrophication and toxic blooms, and are exquisite manifestations of pristine waters.

In this course, you will explore algal communities in habitats including the Great Lakes, marshes, streams, quaking bogs, and fens. You will develop fundamental identification skills and a better understanding of algae’s role in environmental impact assessment. This summer we will be teaching remotely but it will feel like we are all together.  You will be issued a microscope and all of the tools you need to set up a small laboratory in your home.  We will be taking you into the field on virtual field trips to rivers, lakes, bogs, fens and marshes.  We will be setting up group chats as well as posting lecture material.  We hope to make this an exciting experience for each of you as well as for us.